Belt-cleaning device



Patented Apr. 15, 1924.

res

JO$EPH T. FREEMAN, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

BELT-CLEANING- DEVICE.

Application filed August 3, 1922.

able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention has for its object to provide a simple and efiicient portable and transport able device or apparatus for cleaning the surfaces of machine belts ofaccumulated lint,

dust and the like, and also for applying a dressing to the belting to keep the same in proper condition. To these ends the invention comprises a rotatable cylindrical brushlike element having a face of card-clothing, carried by a spindle journalled in and held against longitudinal movement by a journal bearing forming part of a bracket element, with which is associated an elongated handle by means of which the surface of the brush may be brought into contact with the belt and the brush rapidly rotated by reason of such contact, whereby all foreign material, such as lint, dust or factory refuse, which accumulates on the driving belts will be removed from the belt and thrown off by the rapidly rotating brush. Preferably there is associated with the bracket an angularly disposed arm having a clip on the outer end thereof to receive a. suitable container of dressing, to be applied to the belt surface when the device is shifted to bring the dress ing container in contact with the belt.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation of the device, a portion of the handle or support being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device ibnloperative cleaning relation with a machine Referring to the drawings 1 indicates the pendant arm of a bracket element which includes two mating journal box or bearing sections 2 and 3, which are detachablv connected by bolts 4% engaging lateral lugson the sections. Mounted in the journal bearing, as thus constituted, and held against longitudinal movement therein by flanges 6 and 7, is a shaft or spindle having secured to its outer end a brush-like element com- Serial No. 579,422.

prising a supporting cylinder 8, fast to the spindle, with a covering 9 of card-clothing, or equivalent material, secured to and enveloping the surface of the cylinder.

Preferably, removably secured to the arm 1 of the bracket is an elongated bar-like handle or support 10, having its upper end notched to engage the lower half of the ournal bearing and provided with a hole below the notch to receive a bolt 11, which passes through a mating hole in the arm 1 and is provided with a nut 12 which locks the bar 10 to the bracket.

To adapt the device for applying a suitable dressing to the belt, after the latter has been cleaned, there is secured to the arm 1, of the bracket, preferably by the same bolt 11 which secures the handle thereto, a laterally disposed bar 13 to the outer end of which is attached a clamp or clip 14 adapted to retain a container of the dressing material, which is usually put up in cartridge-like form, said container being secured in the clip by setting up the screw 15 in the lugs or cars 16.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description and illustration, the device is adapted to be held and operated by a workman, and may be readily transported from place to place, instead of being secured adjacent a belt as part of the permanent equipment. In applying the device the operator grasps the handle, or bar 10, and lifts the apparatus until the card clothing, constituting the surface of the brush-like element, is brought into engagement with the surface to be cleaned. The movement of the belt causes the brush to rotate rapidly, which has the effect of stripping all lint, dust, and other foreign material from the surface of the belt and throwing the same off. After the belt has been cleaned and it is found necessary or desirable to apply a dressing to the same, the operator merely reverses the position of the device to bring .the cartridge or package of dressing contained in the clip 14, on the arm 13, into engagement with the belt surface, move the same backward and forward to cover the entire surface of the moving belt. It will thus be seen that the apparatus, is not only sufliciently light as to be readily portable and applied to its intended use by a single operator, but is simple, strong and durable and not liable to derangement or damage, and instead of being operated continuously,

as is usually the case with belt cleaners forming a part of a permanent equipment, and usually driven by special gearing, it is employed and operated only when it is necessary to effect the cleaning operation, and, therefore, does not impose any undue wear on the'belt. In other words, the device, because of its portable nature and the facility of application by a single operator, will replace and do the work of many individual belt cleaners, which constitute permanent fixtures of the installation.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. A device for cleaning belts comprising a spindle, a cylinder covered with cardclothing fast thereon, a bracket in which the spindle is journalled, and a supporting handle associated with said bracket; whereby the cylinder may be brought into contact with the belt and rotated by the engagement of the card-clothing with the moving belt.

2. A device for cleaning belts comprising a spindle, a cylinder covered with card clothing fast thereon, a bracket including two mating bearing sections in which the spindle is journalled, and a handle associated with said bracket; whereby the cylinder may be brought into contact with the belt and rotated by the engagement of the card-clothing with the moving belt.

3. A device for cleaning belts comprising a spindle, a cylinder covered with cardclothing fast thereon, a bracket in which the spindle is journalled, an arm connected to said bracket, a clip on said arm for holding a supply of belt dressing, and a support associated with said bracket; whereby the cylinder may be brought into contact with the belt and rotated by the engagement of the card-clothing with the belt or the dressing supply may be engaged with the surface of the belt.

4:. A portable device for cleaning belts comprising a bracket including a journal bearing and a pendant arm, a spindle journalled and secured against longitudinal movement in said bearing, a cylinder covered with card clothing fast on said spindle, and a supporting handle secured to said pendant arm.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOSEPH T. FREEMAN. 

